Why are your property taxes going up? You can blame school pensions.

Pennsylvania legislators about a decade ago passed a law to protect homeowners by limiting property tax hikes to the rate of inflation. Has the law, known as Act 1, worked?

Not for some homeowners. Exceptions were built into the law so school districts could raise property taxes as much as they needed only to cover certain rising costs, like pensions.

As a result, school districts have increased property taxes $465 million above the rate of inflation in the past decade and requested raising property taxes much higher.

CLICK HERE to use our searchable table to find out if your school district requested property tax increases and how many times.

What has been driving tax increases? Pensions. A 2010 pension reform law increased how much school districts and the state paid into the underfunded school pension system. That helped the pension fund, but increased the burden on schools. The result?

The state’s contribution to school pensions doubled from roughly $500 million to $1 billion from 2010 to 2012. It doubled again to $2 billion by 2014. And doubled again to $4 billion this year. Over the next two years, pension costs are expected to slow and only increase about 15 percent.

In general, wealthier school districts have dealt with mounting costs through property tax hikes while poorer districts have not raised rates as often, according to a PublicSource analysis of financial data from the Department of Education.

Poorer school districts that stand to garner less money through property tax increases may have instead eliminated programs, reduced staff, or balanced their budget in some other way.

Ron Cowell, president of the Education Policy and Leadership Center in Harrisburg, said art and foreign language education are often on the chopping block in some school districts. Other school districts have increased class sizes or cut support services such as nursing and counseling.

"This is not just about money,” he said. “It's about impact on students."

Pensions are becoming a greater burden on schools

School pensions are funded by employees, investment income and by state government. The state splits its payments with local school districts. See how much more the state and schools have paid in recent years:

School employees have contributed roughly the same amount to their pensions each year for the past decade...

...while investment income has varied with the ups and downs of the stock market...

...but, mandated contributions by school districts and the state have skyrocketed.

Who is using Act 1?

In the past 10 years, most school districts in Pennsylvania — 384 out of 500 — requested to raise property taxes above inflation at least once.

In total, the Pennsylvania Department of Education approved $1.6 billion worth of these requests, known as Act 1 exceptions, over the past decade.

Districts were approved for at least $540 million in property tax increases to fund pensions and $510 million for special education costs.

School districts don’t always end up raising taxes because they find another way to pay.

Whether a school district qualifies for an exception or not is determined by a mathematical formula.

This standardized tool has the unintended consequence of furthering the gap between richer and poorer school districts in a state that is already challenged by such inequality.

Over the past 10 years, the 25 wealthiest school districts asked to raise property taxes roughly 4.5 times more frequently than the 25 poorest school districts.

Wealthier school districts can raise more money by increasing property taxes. Increasing property taxes by one mill — or a $100 increase in property taxes for every $100,000 of property value — generates more money when properties are worth more.

Mt. Lebanon School District (left) asked to raise property taxes by more than $17 million above the rate of inflation over the past 10 years. That's more than any other Allegheny County school district. Sto-Rox (right) made a similar request just once — for less than $1 million — over the same time period. Mt. Lebanon is one of the wealthiest school districts in the county, while Sto-Rox has a much lower median household income. (Photos by Natasha Khan / PublicSource)

For instance, one mill in the Pine-Richland School District is worth about $2.7 million compared to $250,000 in the Sto-Rox School District, which is west of Pittsburgh, according to their 2016-17 budgets.

In suburban Philadelphia, the Lower Merion School District, one of the wealthiest in the state, requested to raise its property taxes more than any district in the state — $42 million over 10 years. It raised more than $26 million, including what it plans to collect this school year.

In Allegheny County, 35 of the 43 school districts requested and were approved for an exception in the past 10 years. The Mt. Lebanon School District was approved for $17 million in exceptions, the most of any school district in the county. It was followed by the North Allegheny and Pine-Richland school districts. All three are among the state’s 40 wealthiest school districts.

However, those districts also demonstrate the differences between how often the exceptions are actually used.

Pine-Richland raised taxes three times in the six years that it was approved to do so in the past decade. Mt. Lebanon increased property taxes seven times and requested a hike above inflation nearly every year.

State funding can’t keep up

When former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited a Philadelphia school last year, he called Pennsylvania’s schools the most unequal in the nation.

“The state of Pennsylvania is 50th, dead last, in terms of the inequality between how wealthy school districts are funded and poor districts," Duncan said.

Wealthier districts get more of their money from local taxes, while poorer districts receive more of their money from the state.

“The state of Pennsylvania is 50th, dead last, in terms of the inequality between how wealthy school districts are funded and poor districts."

For example, Lower Merion’s median household income is roughly $112,000 and it receives 87 percent of its revenue from local taxes. The Reading School District has a median household income of $27,000 and gets 18 percent of its money from local taxes.

Property taxes can be increased as needed, but state funding doesn’t increase as fast as costs, hurting poorer districts that rely on state aid.

The new fair funding formula has applied $205 million to help poorer districts and growing districts. That’s only 2 percent of the basic education money that’s been distributed to schools over the past two years. As the Legislature puts more money toward schools, the proportion of money using the fair funding formula will continue to grow.

The state only provides about a third of total school funding, which is one of the lowest percentages in the country, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“The statewide [education] system is supposed to level the playing field,” said Cowell of the Education Policy and Leadership Center. “And when there has been an insufficient amount of money put in by the state...it is less effective in leveling the playing field."

Editor's note, posted Aug. 18, 12:00 p.m.: A previous version of the story contained several data inconsistencies and a quote from a policy analyst that cited incorrect information. The story has been updated with clarifications and correct data.

Act 1 exception requests

To combat rapidly rising costs, like pensions, school districts can ask the Pennsylvania Department of Education for permission to raise property taxes to pay for those costs. PublicSource compiled data to show how often each of the state’s 500 school districts have made those requests over the past 10 years. Just because a district was approved for an exception, it does not mean that property taxes have gone up that much. The amount approved shows the maximum that the district could’ve raised taxes. Typically, the amount of taxes actually raised has been significantly less than the amount approved.

School district

Exception requests in past 10 years

Median household income

2014-15 enrollment

Exceptions requested

Exceptions approved

Lower Merion SD

10

$111,956

8,071

$42,314,011

$42,136,301

Neshaminy SD

10

$79,475

8,396

$39,264,243

$39,007,959

Allentown City SD

8

$36,578

16,483

$38,486,016

$27,458,599

Bethlehem Area SD

8

$54,630

13,681

$34,458,335

$34,356,941

Pennsbury SD

4

$84,737

10,156

$29,406,971

$29,320,310

North Penn SD

9

$79,023

12,741

$28,706,272

$24,449,665

East Stroudsburg Area SD

6

$58,719

6,979

$26,795,228

$25,694,528

Norristown Area SD

9

$55,741

7,089

$25,847,062

$24,340,317

Spring-Ford Area SD

10

$85,790

7,891

$23,432,535

$22,566,173

Lancaster SD

8

$36,980

11,259

$22,830,855

$20,341,828

Central Bucks SD

7

$97,047

19,145

$21,858,151

$21,858,151

Hazleton Area SD

6

$41,289

10,871

$21,469,928

$19,846,926

Stroudsburg Area SD

9

$59,207

4,999

$19,682,127

$19,444,609

Upper Darby SD

5

$50,029

12,193

$19,132,325

$17,811,053

Pleasant Valley SD

10

$60,951

4,990

$18,985,095

$18,224,833

Haverford Township SD

10

$93,788

5,845

$18,343,140

$17,433,860

West Chester Area SD

7

$86,579

11,618

$17,975,626

$17,909,029

Mt Lebanon SD

9

$80,914

5,305

$17,870,891

$17,710,458

Upper Dublin SD

9

$106,869

4,206

$17,845,930

$16,960,569

Pocono Mountain SD

5

$54,868

9,293

$17,447,787

$17,293,359

Bensalem Township SD

7

$60,468

6,386

$17,108,050

$17,398,841

Centennial SD

10

$65,679

5,544

$16,984,629

$17,155,947

State College Area SD

7

$49,621

6,776

$15,263,205

$15,263,205

York City SD

5

$28,819

5,433

$14,960,653

$14,339,052

Perkiomen Valley SD

8

$92,688

5,761

$14,946,368

$15,682,517

Hempfield SD

9

$67,081

6,781

$14,762,248

$13,670,188

Radnor Township SD

7

$100,129

3,658

$14,253,231

$11,952,739

Phoenixville Area SD

9

$72,763

3,738

$14,079,894

$14,123,868

Exeter Township SD

10

$73,348

4,061

$13,741,205

$13,689,380

Quakertown Community SD

7

$65,398

5,289

$13,298,935

$13,298,935

Souderton Area SD

6

$78,809

6,566

$13,176,229

$11,667,092

Kennett Consolidated SD

9

$96,952

4,212

$12,988,340

$12,240,441

Wilson SD

9

$66,693

5,970

$12,985,565

$12,964,763

Methacton SD

9

$99,910

4,974

$12,731,970

$11,585,785

Governor Mifflin SD

10

$59,818

4,069

$12,435,586

$12,728,529

Cheltenham Township SD

6

$75,831

4,627

$12,349,648

$12,589,843

North Allegheny SD

7

$95,592

8,215

$12,274,212

$12,274,212

East Penn SD

6

$70,520

8,071

$11,550,685

$11,278,169

Nazareth Area SD

6

$77,321

4,645

$11,021,201

$10,701,020

Colonial SD

7

$87,981

4,708

$10,754,621

$10,493,122

Springfield SD

9

$90,128

3,944

$10,715,765

$10,374,954

Chambersburg Area SD

5

$52,263

8,977

$10,163,654

$9,428,708

Parkland SD

5

$79,564

9,159

$9,811,577

$10,165,873

Boyertown Area SD

7

$70,023

7,031

$9,739,518

$9,729,890

Upper Moreland Township SD

6

$65,208

3,107

$9,525,420

$9,850,434

Wallingford-Swarthmore SD

6

$102,599

3,529

$9,387,983

$8,902,897

Mifflin County SD

7

$40,828

5,180

$9,360,181

$9,456,075

Marple Newtown SD

6

$78,891

3,280

$9,334,768

$9,208,733

Twin Valley SD

9

$73,158

3,351

$9,096,871

$9,090,795

Council Rock SD

4

$111,836

11,078

$8,902,222

$8,902,222

Bristol Borough SD

7

$41,446

1,208

$8,865,272

$8,825,126

Tredyffrin-Easttown SD

5

$115,089

6,553

$8,412,247

$8,367,333

Whitehall-Coplay SD

10

$55,954

4,239

$8,368,945

$8,306,232

Downingtown Area SD

3

$104,756

12,070

$8,332,873

$7,761,330

Seneca Valley SD

6

$82,385

7,201

$8,328,398

$8,328,398

Abington SD

4

$75,281

7,674

$8,137,024

$7,428,980

Ridley SD

5

$61,444

5,477

$8,001,794

$8,001,794

Owen J Roberts SD

4

$84,389

5,205

$7,825,592

$7,795,288

Red Lion Area SD

6

$57,869

5,316

$7,800,257

$8,149,049

Woodland Hills SD

2

$41,962

3,828

$7,726,238

$6,951,480

Upper Merion Area SD

7

$76,571

4,016

$7,689,369

$7,688,705

Coatesville Area SD

4

$65,962

7,015

$7,657,762

$7,072,872

Unionville-Chadds Ford SD

8

$120,179

4,039

$7,647,906

$7,576,890

Lower Moreland Township SD

10

$105,109

2,152

$7,517,016

$7,335,534

Panther Valley SD

10

$36,106

1,662

$7,243,247

$6,278,512

Pine-Richland SD

6

$111,250

4,595

$7,236,574

$7,261,893

Philipsburg-Osceola Area SD

2

$42,070

1,753

$7,182,903

$6,962,505

Eastern Lancaster County SD

10

$58,367

3,174

$7,030,754

$7,017,080

Octorara Area SD

6

$66,134

2,518

$7,007,258

$7,076,783

Solanco SD

9

$55,006

3,550

$6,957,833

$6,947,836

Springfield Township SD

10

$85,074

2,319

$6,944,073

$6,936,234

West Shore SD

5

$59,716

7,821

$6,907,900

$6,907,900

Lebanon SD

10

$35,899

4,882

$6,866,326

$6,431,185

Rose Tree Media SD

4

$89,057

3,742

$6,566,294

$6,564,045

Palmyra Area SD

9

$60,006

3,420

$6,348,562

$6,344,307

Garnet Valley SD

5

$92,961

4,748

$6,287,230

$6,471,050

Pottsgrove SD

6

$73,177

3,214

$6,228,865

$6,209,107

Central York SD

6

$64,449

5,854

$6,226,687

$6,249,884

Uniontown Area SD

2

$35,826

2,852

$6,212,509

$6,139,512

Oxford Area SD

2

$68,184

3,858

$6,189,105

$6,183,782

Fleetwood Area SD

10

$65,557

2,622

$6,003,857

$5,636,455

Bethel Park SD

6

$70,168

4,305

$5,921,740

$5,920,958

South Fayette Township SD

7

$80,804

2,877

$5,883,626

$4,460,947

Armstrong SD

4

$44,013

5,263

$5,880,871

$5,311,405

Upper Perkiomen SD

4

$68,343

3,250

$5,817,868

$5,430,165

Pennridge SD

4

$73,515

7,357

$5,616,334

$5,850,546

Shikellamy SD

9

$41,523

2,855

$5,557,247

$5,507,079

Elizabethtown Area SD

8

$59,293

3,915

$5,540,693

$5,247,130

Middletown Area SD

9

$51,866

2,293

$5,507,088

$5,505,254

Wallenpaupack Area SD

7

$53,138

3,163

$5,445,307

$5,028,949

Easton Area SD

3

$61,868

8,756

$5,408,008

$5,420,027

New Hope-Solebury SD

5

$108,784

1,511

$5,385,706

$5,150,509

Baldwin-Whitehall SD

4

$55,233

4,131

$5,296,973

$5,643,879

Conrad Weiser Area SD

6

$65,304

2,729

$5,248,410

$5,074,856

Eastern Lebanon County SD

9

$58,036

2,419

$5,199,892

$5,086,704

Quaker Valley SD

5

$71,353

1,941

$5,150,726

$5,295,798

Cornwall-Lebanon SD

5

$64,982

4,616

$5,121,044

$5,105,618

Crawford Central SD

5

$43,371

3,813

$5,084,164

$5,084,164

Upper Saint Clair SD

4

$106,444

4,089

$5,060,376

$5,019,239

Gateway SD

3

$51,960

3,430

$4,939,807

$4,939,807

Warwick SD

4

$64,079

4,154

$4,795,948

$4,795,948

Williamsport Area SD

7

$38,713

4,997

$4,780,829

$4,603,792

Southeast Delco SD

4

$48,918

4,175

$4,772,097

$4,312,609

Southern Tioga SD

7

$47,545

1,803

$4,686,605

$4,497,088

Salisbury Township SD

9

$69,685

1,540

$4,651,289

$4,469,710

Conestoga Valley SD

7

$56,316

4,309

$4,610,714

$4,354,748

Midd-West SD

5

$45,239

2,177

$4,583,040

$4,422,122

Daniel Boone Area SD

5

$76,574

3,538

$4,506,785

$4,529,993

Line Mountain SD

8

$48,815

1,229

$4,483,167

$4,342,685

Wayne Highlands SD

6

$44,956

2,651

$4,387,762

$4,387,762

Northampton Area SD

5

$62,384

5,548

$4,323,053

$4,325,510

Great Valley SD

4

$100,154

3,940

$4,281,747

$4,281,747

South Western SD

7

$69,287

4,124

$4,279,450

$4,466,528

West Mifflin Area SD

2

$46,845

2,904

$4,016,193

$659,437

William Penn SD

3

$47,319

5,101

$4,014,037

$3,791,295

Erie City SD

3

$33,007

11,815

$3,983,482

$3,516,379

Spring Grove Area SD

6

$66,792

3,842

$3,943,538

$3,750,829

Moon Area SD

5

$67,275

3,771

$3,943,175

$3,889,680

Central Dauphin SD

2

$63,783

11,059

$3,814,341

$3,802,159

Muhlenberg SD

4

$60,239

3,573

$3,732,295

$3,704,472

Indiana Area SD

5

$42,257

2,800

$3,677,243

$3,677,243

Highlands SD

3

$44,745

2,481

$3,661,912

$3,756,296

Lake-Lehman SD

6

$60,000

1,921

$3,636,470

$3,520,041

Lampeter-Strasburg SD

5

$67,392

3,044

$3,610,040

$3,606,175

Hamburg Area SD

6

$56,467

2,202

$3,605,050

$3,604,439

Donegal SD

4

$62,174

2,905

$3,601,360

$3,589,114

North Pocono SD

2

$57,577

3,021

$3,594,783

$3,594,783

Newport SD

6

$50,662

1,080

$3,535,692

$3,312,140

Tunkhannock Area SD

5

$51,446

2,549

$3,534,902

$3,534,902

Camp Hill SD

9

$65,192

1,300

$3,479,427

$3,481,175

Eastern York SD

5

$55,148

2,525

$3,374,661

$3,461,772

Jim Thorpe Area SD

4

$55,628

2,082

$3,370,263

$3,363,676

Laurel Highlands SD

4

$40,912

3,149

$3,328,706

$3,112,641

Wattsburg Area SD

7

$62,979

1,407

$3,312,147

$3,137,302

Bellefonte Area SD

7

$52,994

2,665

$3,307,290

$3,232,994

Steel Valley SD

3

$39,891

1,535

$3,269,015

$2,294,895

Wissahickon SD

2

$98,454

4,484

$3,264,580

$3,264,580

Ambridge Area SD

4

$48,948

2,593

$3,239,794

$4,871,200

Columbia Borough SD

7

$43,410

1,347

$3,207,478

$2,988,137

Western Wayne SD

3

$52,336

2,047

$3,202,284

$2,716,242

Hanover Area SD

1

$39,392

1,999

$3,189,404

$4,184,432

Slippery Rock Area SD

6

$46,791

2,057

$3,173,868

$2,215,905

West York Area SD

4

$56,391

2,954

$3,167,010

$3,159,734

Schuylkill Valley SD

6

$66,680

1,978

$3,138,661

$3,135,476

Pottstown SD

3

$45,724

3,205

$3,138,226

$2,981,351

Millcreek Township SD

3

$55,547

7,205

$3,123,059

$3,123,059

Ellwood City Area SD

7

$43,610

1,747

$3,062,461

$2,917,028

Norwin SD

3

$64,258

5,222

$3,009,768

$3,006,741

Susquenita SD

3

$61,753

1,735

$2,939,061

$2,876,517

Wyoming Area SD

5

$48,583

2,347

$2,928,953

$2,903,072

Annville-Cleona SD

8

$56,620

1,475

$2,927,137

$2,851,509

Chichester SD

3

$55,893

3,368

$2,913,357

$2,913,357

Gettysburg Area SD

5

$59,411

2,994

$2,900,991

$1,925,236

Northern Tioga SD

5

$43,554

2,051

$2,894,550

$2,798,168

Manheim Township SD

3

$67,796

5,737

$2,870,326

$2,799,674

York Suburban SD

5

$65,876

2,873

$2,869,973

$2,870,727

Marion Center Area SD

5

$51,683

1,411

$2,858,637

$2,438,184

Franklin Regional SD

4

$82,728

3,528

$2,814,723

$2,814,723

Cocalico SD

3

$62,506

3,020

$2,805,930

$2,789,702

Avon Grove SD

2

$91,508

5,012

$2,802,279

$2,802,279

Palisades SD

5

$69,021

1,708

$2,801,883

$2,802,668

Harrisburg City SD

1

$32,476

6,414

$2,721,006

$2,654,773

Derry Township SD

4

$65,138

3,399

$2,692,119

$2,680,850

Palmerton Area SD

4

$54,563

1,845

$2,657,266

$2,619,399

Brandywine Heights Area SD

8

$62,422

1,501

$2,656,946

$2,656,946

United SD

8

$48,750

1,103

$2,632,292

$2,587,908

Homer-Center SD

9

$44,100

839

$2,627,386

$2,590,364

Morrisville Borough SD

5

$61,689

876

$2,610,188

$2,583,610

Montoursville Area SD

3

$52,296

2,020

$2,602,372

$2,602,372

Somerset Area SD

6

$43,817

2,253

$2,587,175

$2,587,175

Lewisburg Area SD

8

$49,291

1,945

$2,519,670

$2,540,770

Peters Township SD

3

$107,237

4,217

$2,455,541

$2,455,541

Bald Eagle Area SD

5

$53,445

1,695

$2,444,313

$2,414,388

Penn Manor SD

2

$59,244

5,085

$2,441,950

$2,420,517

Oley Valley SD

4

$71,460

1,704

$2,429,880

$2,429,880

Pequea Valley SD

5

$58,486

1,604

$2,393,263

$2,378,341

Halifax Area SD

5

$56,350

1,053

$2,390,596

$2,352,974

Susquehanna Township SD

4

$63,357

2,679

$2,370,358

$2,370,358

Greater Latrobe SD

2

$51,879

4,023

$2,367,567

$2,279,681

Albert Gallatin Area SD

4

$38,165

3,435

$2,359,783

$1,901,389

Warren County SD

4

$44,426

4,499

$2,351,660

$2,033,134

Dallas SD

5

$64,157

2,672

$2,336,437

$2,336,437

Bristol Township SD

2

$57,128

6,301

$2,298,487

$1,871,136

North Hills SD

2

$61,587

4,271

$2,269,775

$2,269,775

Northern Lebanon SD

5

$61,500

2,289

$2,249,626

$2,249,626

Dallastown Area SD

2

$63,003

6,169

$2,226,878

$1,752,764

Kutztown Area SD

7

$59,107

1,359

$2,205,338

$2,021,196

Conewago Valley SD

4

$56,969

3,796

$2,135,779

$2,098,395

Catasauqua Area SD

2

$51,532

1,503

$2,129,049

$2,109,660

Jenkintown SD

8

$75,116

630

$2,102,485

$2,019,385

Milton Area SD

5

$43,509

2,084

$2,092,951

$2,092,951

Avonworth SD

6

$85,652

1,557

$2,065,462

$2,234,090

Wyoming Valley West SD

2

$43,927

4,730

$2,052,821

$1,740,059

Juniata Valley SD

8

$47,965

758

$2,041,399

$1,734,467

Southern Huntingdon County SD

7

$43,956

1,205

$2,031,111

$1,879,638

Southern Columbia Area SD

6

$52,251

1,421

$2,012,417

$1,938,594

Harbor Creek SD

5

$62,236

2,071

$2,007,559

$1,758,222

Crestwood SD

4

$72,094

2,861

$1,949,492

$2,156,191

Central Columbia SD

7

$55,586

1,742

$1,941,186

$1,941,186

Mount Carmel Area SD

3

$35,007

1,512

$1,918,638

$1,905,354

Old Forge SD

7

$51,135

927

$1,875,321

$1,695,266

Pittston Area SD

3

$44,750

3,405

$1,875,096

$1,885,739

Burgettstown Area SD

7

$50,897

1,210

$1,835,621

$1,678,584

Manheim Central SD

3

$63,726

2,857

$1,820,707

$1,837,965

Yough SD

4

$48,459

2,164

$1,814,400

$1,806,018

Beaver Area SD

5

$57,538

1,966

$1,811,484

$1,794,276

Northwestern Lehigh SD

2

$75,702

2,227

$1,792,844

$1,792,708

Fox Chapel Area SD

1

$76,250

4,224

$1,790,583

$1,739,049

Greencastle-Antrim SD

3

$62,453

3,027

$1,783,326

$1,807,741

Mount Union Area SD

4

$38,623

1,499

$1,781,892

$1,781,852

Southern Lehigh SD

2

$80,373

3,104

$1,780,266

$1,789,740

Trinity Area SD

2

$59,261

3,270

$1,766,870

$1,766,870

Brownsville Area SD

4

$35,263

1,660

$1,757,321

$2,051,763

Belle Vernon Area SD

1

$53,196

2,522

$1,748,036

$1,727,535

Troy Area SD

6

$49,675

1,463

$1,740,621

$1,581,366

Mahanoy Area SD

5

$35,686

1,004

$1,735,573

$1,676,770

Dubois Area SD

3

$41,669

3,704

$1,686,162

$1,299,961

Hatboro-Horsham SD

1

$80,966

4,764

$1,678,397

$1,911,899

Canon-McMillan SD

1

$62,005

5,092

$1,665,886

$1,695,886

Warrior Run SD

7

$50,471

1,549

$1,654,417

$1,635,869

Clairton City SD

4

$29,158

794

$1,616,036

$1,658,366

Keystone Central SD

2

$43,570

4,037

$1,615,250

$1,382,607

Juniata County SD

3

$47,390

2,930

$1,608,617

$1,366,821

Freeport Area SD

6

$61,632

1,856

$1,597,444

$1,523,499

Fairview SD

6

$76,602

1,617

$1,576,139

$1,576,139

Chestnut Ridge SD

2

$45,381

1,598

$1,564,207

$1,549,539

Towanda Area SD

4

$49,897

1,568

$1,544,971

$1,427,578

Mechanicsburg Area SD

1

$61,744

3,845

$1,541,107

$1,541,107

Blue Mountain SD

3

$58,838

2,648

$1,537,391

$1,394,354

East Lycoming SD

6

$53,656

1,631

$1,528,091

$1,447,939

Fairfield Area SD

2

$68,611

1,053

$1,498,343

$1,498,366

South Williamsport Area SD

7

$44,380

1,323

$1,496,145

$1,742,099

West Branch Area SD

4

$48,611

1,072

$1,476,625

$1,302,279

Valley View SD

4

$45,989

2,514

$1,469,737

$1,456,956

Wyomissing Area SD

3

$67,092

1,915

$1,454,990

$1,265,649

Tamaqua Area SD

1

$46,845

2,131

$1,445,051

$1,445,051

Northgate SD

3

$39,417

1,225

$1,441,598

$1,380,521

Ligonier Valley SD

2

$47,554

1,572

$1,433,470

$1,428,224

Freedom Area SD

4

$51,227

1,442

$1,422,463

$1,420,292

East Pennsboro Area SD

4

$62,435

2,707

$1,420,804

$1,420,804

Keystone Oaks SD

2

$52,550

1,955

$1,403,532

$1,403,532

Burrell SD

2

$53,913

1,792

$1,399,561

$1,400,486

Antietam SD

6

$48,945

1,059

$1,394,194

$1,376,192

Penn Hills SD

1

$46,842

3,986

$1,392,963

$1,392,963

Wellsboro Area SD

3

$47,066

1,496

$1,392,060

$1,358,223

Lakeland SD

2

$49,405

1,515

$1,391,565

$1,328,969

West Perry SD

3

$57,242

2,507

$1,378,954

$1,244,424

Penn-Delco SD

4

$74,003

3,374

$1,365,375

$1,365,375

Wyalusing Area SD

6

$54,794

1,327

$1,356,165

$1,489,580

Sharpsville Area SD

4

$44,939

1,316

$1,348,562

$1,347,011

Selinsgrove Area SD

4

$51,439

2,709

$1,343,385

$1,391,588

Bellwood-Antis SD

6

$60,485

1,261

$1,331,599

$1,279,230

Riverview SD

5

$48,163

998

$1,314,423

$1,314,423

Upper Adams SD

5

$57,267

1,708

$1,307,545

$1,287,524

Shenandoah Valley SD

2

$30,901

1,019

$1,299,524

$1,345,075

Saint Clair Area SD

5

$40,319

577

$1,274,913

$1,274,913

Mount Pleasant Area SD

2

$47,298

2,071

$1,250,819

$1,297,047

Mid Valley SD

4

$45,379

1,738

$1,248,370

$1,314,486

Cornell SD

3

$36,227

649

$1,231,530

$1,229,499

Northeastern York SD

2

$63,546

3,751

$1,229,594

$1,195,076

Turkeyfoot Valley Area SD

3

$37,634

381

$1,222,002

$1,222,002

Northwest Area SD

5

$51,938

1,015

$1,220,089

$1,226,109

Waynesboro Area SD

1

$51,449

4,437

$1,186,279

$1,186,126

Hempfield Area SD

2

$54,911

5,901

$1,184,870

$1,193,846

Hermitage SD

1

$53,784

2,068

$1,178,893

$1,167,524

Elizabeth Forward SD

2

$54,807

2,346

$1,156,708

$1,043,800

Carlisle Area SD

1

$54,240

5,027

$1,138,384

$753,134

Penns Valley Area SD

7

$49,038

1,437

$1,129,494

$1,129,494

Bangor Area SD

3

$58,129

2,985

$1,126,087

$1,126,087

Brentwood Borough SD

4

$52,455

1,205

$1,109,991

$976,221

Weatherly Area SD

4

$47,306

667

$1,085,428

$1,085,428

Conneaut SD

2

$44,652

2,082

$1,079,264

$664,439

Wilmington Area SD

5

$48,698

1,190

$1,078,939

$1,078,939

Muncy SD

2

$50,051

1,041

$1,065,432

$1,065,432

Clearfield Area SD

2

$40,691

2,258

$1,029,716

$849,706

Spring Cove SD

2

$46,740

1,846

$1,013,338

$1,246,432

Lackawanna Trail SD

3

$54,583

1,035

$1,007,739

$1,007,739

Karns City Area SD

3

$49,774

1,518

$1,001,703

$990,045

Washington SD

6

$37,353

1,489

$998,845

$935,707

Everett Area SD

6

$41,765

1,331

$990,983

$973,955

Montgomery Area SD

4

$49,417

918

$989,025

$974,403

Central Greene SD

3

$52,139

1,830

$987,368

$957,670

Tulpehocken Area SD

2

$60,478

1,394

$985,336

$787,754

Tussey Mountain SD

2

$40,533

1,047

$959,864

$975,692

Central Valley SD

2

$60,798

2,377

$947,346

$947,346

Sto-Rox SD

1

$29,639

1,335

$943,532

$943,532

Charleroi SD

3

$40,345

1,590

$942,632

$697,953

Jersey Shore Area SD

2

$53,174

2,558

$937,055

$922,328

Greenwood SD

6

$55,078

749

$930,216

$925,445

Western Beaver County SD

5

$53,984

715

$923,073

$957,884

Connellsville Area SD

1

$38,442

4,321

$907,069

$780,526

Pen Argyl Area SD

3

$55,516

1,642

$902,673

$899,591

Pine Grove Area SD

1

$51,198

1,622

$882,865

$882,865

Littlestown Area SD

1

$63,345

1,942

$869,910

$745,179

Montour SD

1

$67,027

2,793

$866,407

$866,407

North Schuylkill SD

2

$43,469

1,965

$865,063

$858,385

Windber Area SD

4

$37,420

1,164

$848,794

$790,839

Frazier SD

4

$49,274

1,246

$842,773

$817,398

Forest Area SD

8

$37,139

461

$833,008

$833,008

Northeast Bradford SD

1

$48,935

848

$817,331

$817,331

Big Spring SD

3

$58,200

2,616

$816,153

$795,450

Leechburg Area SD

4

$45,096

803

$796,998

$789,604

Delaware Valley SD

1

$63,708

4,742

$779,984

$779,984

Huntingdon Area SD

1

$45,124

1,967

$773,900

$779,528

Carlynton SD

2

$44,297

1,379

$768,412

$768,412

South Eastern SD

2

$67,363

2,691

$767,021

$696,488

Blackhawk SD

1

$53,690

2,431

$744,884

$744,884

New Kensington-Arnold SD

4

$32,515

2,097

$737,417

$732,677

Conemaugh Valley SD

1

$44,500

790

$730,260

$653,172

Northern Cambria SD

4

$43,307

1,129

$728,637

$671,709

Hanover Public SD

2

$44,249

1,728

$720,785

$366,541

Derry Area SD

3

$43,887

2,143

$685,957

$659,009

Bloomsburg Area SD

1

$39,688

1,582

$674,415

$674,415

Benton Area SD

4

$47,250

697

$669,416

$524,714

Penns Manor Area SD

3

$46,173

914

$646,445

$646,067

Union Area SD

1

$41,071

749

$601,345

$367,115

Chartiers-Houston SD

2

$55,945

1,113

$596,198

$563,156

Greensburg Salem SD

1

$41,741

2,892

$574,378

$574,378

Tuscarora SD

2

$53,718

2,498

$571,369

$571,369

General McLane SD

1

$52,188

2,173

$563,801

$563,801

Ephrata Area SD

1

$54,569

4,167

$546,999

$546,999

Moniteau SD

1

$49,074

1,303

$540,080

$540,080

Sharon City SD

2

$29,213

2,063

$539,077

$466,240

Southern York County SD

1

$73,284

3,027

$538,793

$538,770

Girard SD

2

$49,073

1,743

$536,849

$536,849

Brockway Area SD

3

$45,257

1,005

$531,774

$538,302

New Brighton Area SD

3

$40,094

1,454

$526,880

$322,383

Steelton-Highspire SD

1

$45,611

1,332

$515,971

$516,488

Rochester Area SD

2

$43,588

734

$515,082

$462,057

Deer Lakes SD

1

$57,702

1,988

$500,647

$500,647

West Allegheny SD

1

$68,267

3,230

$492,690

$492,690

Northern Lehigh SD

1

$58,750

1,668

$484,949

$484,949

Dover Area SD

1

$55,919

3,558

$466,904

$466,904

Bermudian Springs SD

2

$63,434

2,009

$466,025

$466,025

Central Fulton SD

3

$46,698

1,013

$441,073

$420,141

Plum Borough SD

1

$67,639

3,863

$435,964

$432,527

Upper Dauphin Area SD

2

$48,900

1,213

$433,352

$408,947

Mohawk Area SD

1

$49,912

1,494

$428,815

$428,284

Brookville Area SD

2

$42,690

1,567

$427,245

$445,257

Rockwood Area SD

2

$48,009

734

$421,819

$411,418

Williamsburg Community SD

1

$44,841

483

$418,361

$405,221

Williams Valley SD

1

$46,403

1,001

$416,326

$416,326

Clarion Area SD

2

$43,218

806

$410,388

$409,526

Conemaugh Township Area SD

1

$49,411

980

$369,808

$369,808

Fannett-Metal SD

4

$49,440

502

$365,111

$357,782

Interboro SD

1

$57,266

3,442

$363,490

$363,490

Hampton Township SD

1

$84,351

2,952

$355,084

$355,084

Blacklick Valley SD

1

$39,225

657

$337,905

$337,905

Shippensburg Area SD

1

$45,816

3,366

$333,899

$313,937

Dunmore SD

1

$48,422

1,550

$332,065

$332,065

Sayre Area SD

1

$44,364

1,112

$330,092

$330,092

Wilkinsburg Borough SD

1

$33,483

896

$317,730

$236,606

Avella Area SD

1

$62,757

558

$313,147

$121,250

Danville Area SD

1

$53,560

2,238

$312,322

$312,322

Wilson Area SD

2

$59,799

2,182

$310,407

$310,407

Shanksville-Stonycreek SD

6

$50,385

337

$299,902

$292,857

Portage Area SD

2

$45,530

918

$272,657

$272,657

California Area SD

1

$41,313

923

$270,440

$270,440

South Side Area SD

2

$65,514

1,130

$260,548

$260,548

Jefferson-Morgan SD

2

$43,149

791

$230,161

$212,160

Shenango Area SD

2

$50,794

1,133

$215,762

$208,258

Canton Area SD

1

$44,300

962

$208,002

$176,323

Millville Area SD

1

$50,063

655

$204,944

$62,281

East Allegheny SD

1

$37,942

1,635

$198,118

$114,413

Westmont Hilltop SD

2

$60,804

1,522

$196,431

$196,431

McGuffey SD

1

$56,319

1,743

$161,693

$235,098

Carmichaels Area SD

1

$40,265

1,069

$153,246

$92,938

Mifflinburg Area SD

1

$47,599

2,008

$139,474

$137,378

Greater Nanticoke Area SD

1

$38,426

2,247

$138,418

$123,240

Ridgway Area SD

2

$42,853

862

$133,082

$173,527

Laurel SD

1

$54,259

1,244

$132,212

$113,557

Austin Area SD

1

$38,750

209

$128,068

$128,068

Riverside SD

1

$45,229

1,552

$116,978

$116,978

Iroquois SD

1

$52,317

1,218

$109,763

$88,536

Valley Grove SD

1

$42,938

931

$104,520

$104,520

Mountain View SD

1

$50,346

1,025

$103,615

$103,615

Northern Bedford County SD

3

$52,152

994

$99,227

$99,227

Allegheny Valley SD

1

$49,393

943

$79,514

$79,514

Forbes Road SD

1

$47,794

359

$65,704

$65,704

Blairsville-Saltsburg SD

1

$45,248

1,634

$65,520

$65,520

Shade-Central City SD

1

$41,203

467

$50,193

$34,826

Northern York County SD

1

$64,847

3,155

$35,162

$35,162

Harmony Area SD

1

$41,116

316

$29,266

$29,266

Corry Area SD

1

$39,252

2,176

$19,726

$19,726

Bryn Athyn SD

0

$82,946

N/A

$0

$0

Mars Area SD

0

$79,923

3,262

$0

$0

Cumberland Valley SD

0

$79,329

8,397

$0

$0

Abington Heights SD

0

$72,791

3,286

$0

$0

Penn-Trafford SD

0

$71,399

3,977

$0

$0

South Park SD

0

$69,365

1,888

$0

$0

South Middleton SD

0

$69,300

2,140

$0

$0

Lower Dauphin SD

0

$68,527

3,710

$0

$0

West Jefferson Hills SD

0

$67,596

2,802

$0

$0

Saucon Valley SD

0

$66,582

2,269

$0

$0

Hopewell Area SD

0

$61,748

2,208

$0

$0

Riverside Beaver County SD

0

$61,160

1,471

$0

$0

Chartiers Valley SD

0

$59,373

3,309

$0

$0

Shaler Area SD

0

$59,309

4,559

$0

$0

South Butler County SD

0

$57,500

2,526

$0

$0

Neshannock Township SD

0

$57,083

1,230

$0

$0

Elk Lake SD

0

$56,000

1,231

$0

$0

Fort LeBoeuf SD

0

$54,426

2,113

$0

$0

Montrose Area SD

0

$54,198

1,408

$0

$0

Fort Cherry SD

0

$54,194

1,067

$0

$0

Millersburg Area SD

0

$53,958

819

$0

$0

Central Cambria SD

0

$51,917

1,667

$0

$0

West Greene SD

0

$51,809

702

$0

$0

Southern Fulton SD

0

$51,283

751

$0

$0

Hollidaysburg Area SD

0

$51,006

3,399

$0

$0

Lehighton Area SD

0

$50,349

2,365

$0

$0

Northwestern SD

0

$50,336

1,452

$0

$0

Mercer Area SD

0

$49,901

1,191

$0

$0

Bentworth SD

0

$49,746

1,160

$0

$0

Forest City Regional SD

0

$49,743

806

$0

$0

North Clarion County SD

0

$49,676

587

$0

$0

Forest Hills SD

0

$49,491

1,897

$0

$0

North East SD

0

$49,462

1,684

$0

$0

Lakeview SD

0

$49,360

1,129

$0

$0

Schuylkill Haven Area SD

0

$49,012

1,255

$0

$0

Saint Marys Area SD

0

$48,935

2,106

$0

$0

Kiski Area SD

0

$48,877

3,761

$0

$0

Butler Area SD

0

$48,793

7,177

$0

$0

Cranberry Area SD

0

$48,417

1,167

$0

$0

Bethlehem-Center SD

0

$48,090

1,248

$0

$0

Ringgold SD

0

$48,049

2,938

$0

$0

Grove City Area SD

0

$48,002

2,529

$0

$0

Tri-Valley SD

0

$47,995

868

$0

$0

Allegheny-Clarion Valley SD

0

$47,877

669

$0

$0

Tyrone Area SD

0

$47,726

1,921

$0

$0

Commodore Perry SD

0

$47,580

507

$0

$0

Penn Cambria SD

0

$47,446

1,715

$0

$0

Coudersport Area SD

0

$47,380

796

$0

$0

Athens Area SD

0

$47,144

2,133

$0

$0

Richland SD

0

$47,064

1,619

$0

$0

Keystone SD

0

$46,961

1,042

$0

$0

Loyalsock Township SD

0

$46,843

1,517

$0

$0

Penncrest SD

0

$46,695

3,050

$0

$0

Southeastern Greene SD

0

$46,422

592

$0

$0

Blue Ridge SD

0

$46,226

1,060

$0

$0

Cambria Heights SD

0

$45,783

1,419

$0

$0

Apollo-Ridge SD

0

$45,765

1,251

$0

$0

Union City Area SD

0

$45,257

1,159

$0

$0

Otto-Eldred SD

0

$44,953

702

$0

$0

Bedford Area SD

0

$44,861

1,835

$0

$0

Johnsonburg Area SD

0

$44,552

622

$0

$0

Meyersdale Area SD

0

$44,493

868

$0

$0

North Star SD

0

$44,245

1,128

$0

$0

Southmoreland SD

0

$44,206

1,940

$0

$0

Smethport Area SD

0

$44,159

880

$0

$0

Jamestown Area SD

0

$43,625

525

$0

$0

Kane Area SD

0

$43,582

1,182

$0

$0

Franklin Area SD

0

$43,510

1,965

$0

$0

Berlin Brothersvalley SD

0

$43,426

792

$0

$0

Berwick Area SD

0

$43,230

2,899

$0

$0

Union SD

0

$42,978

600

$0

$0

Bradford Area SD

0

$42,529

2,599

$0

$0

Reynolds SD

0

$42,413

1,110

$0

$0

Redbank Valley SD

0

$42,364

1,124

$0

$0

Punxsutawney Area SD

0

$42,277

2,184

$0

$0

Sullivan County SD

0

$41,786

625

$0

$0

Jeannette City SD

0

$41,773

1,027

$0

$0

Greenville Area SD

0

$41,690

1,352

$0

$0

South Allegheny SD

0

$41,279

1,539

$0

$0

Cameron County SD

0

$41,157

598

$0

$0

Minersville Area SD

0

$41,157

1,218

$0

$0

Northern Potter SD

0

$40,925

574

$0

$0

Purchase Line SD

0

$40,893

946

$0

$0

Claysburg-Kimmel SD

0

$40,886

835

$0

$0

West Middlesex Area SD

0

$40,882

1,007

$0

$0

Curwensville Area SD

0

$40,224

1,078

$0

$0

Oswayo Valley SD

0

$40,026

434

$0

$0

Galeton Area SD

0

$40,000

347

$0

$0

Pittsburgh SD

0

$39,864

24,657

$0

$0

Pottsville Area SD

0

$39,630

2,799

$0

$0

Susquehanna Community SD

0

$39,555

820

$0

$0

Salisbury-Elk Lick SD

0

$39,013

288

$0

$0

Glendale SD

0

$38,880

819

$0

$0

Oil City Area SD

0

$38,492

2,058

$0

$0

Titusville Area SD

0

$38,472

2,061

$0

$0

Moshannon Valley SD

0

$38,254

890

$0

$0

Ferndale Area SD

0

$38,209

679

$0

$0

Altoona Area SD

0

$38,198

7,764

$0

$0

Port Allegany SD

0

$37,610

868

$0

$0

Scranton SD

0

$37,551

10,009

$0

$0

Wilkes-Barre Area SD

0

$37,474

6,895

$0

$0

Philadelphia City SD

0

$37,460

134,241

$0

$0

Shamokin Area SD

0

$36,745

2,514

$0

$0

Aliquippa SD

0

$34,816

1,156

$0

$0

Clarion-Limestone Area SD

0

$34,517

870

$0

$0

Big Beaver Falls Area SD

0

$34,414

1,672

$0

$0

McKeesport Area SD

0

$34,255

3,530

$0

$0

Carbondale Area SD

0

$33,774

1,647

$0

$0

Monessen City SD

0

$32,970

883

$0

$0

Farrell Area SD

0

$32,071

725

$0

$0

Chester-Upland SD

0

$29,933

3,343

$0

$0

New Castle Area SD

0

$29,844

3,183

$0

$0

Greater Johnstown SD

0

$28,949

3,003

$0

$0

Reading SD

0

$26,867

17,303

$0

$0

Midland Borough SD

0

$24,970

286

$0

$0

Duquesne City SD

0

$19,811

345

$0

$0

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Unfortunately, the problem in PA is not the pension system, which was funded more than 150% and was healthy before 9-11. In the recession that followed, Gov. Tom Ridge pushed legislation / acts that gave schools and other entities the option to delay or postpone payments into the system, while employees contributed the whole time. Many places, once the recession was turning around, continued to NOT pay into the system, resulting in this shortfall — which the Republican governor knew would happen to break the system. If those entities replaced that money or used fracking fees, for example, to replace that chunk, the system would work with your typical small tax increases.